- Queensland Water Strategy highlights the Palaszczuk Government’s record of water infrastructure delivery and clear path to future water planning
- Highlights collaborative working relationship with stakeholders and communities in important water planning activities
- Further work underway to identify infrastructure needs and deliver water security for regional communities through the $2.6 million Urban Water Risk Assessment
The Palaszczuk Government’s new Queensland Water Strategy has been launched today during National Water Week. The strategy was announced by Queensland’s Water Minister Glenn Butcher at the Local Government Association of Queensland’s annual conference, held in Gladstone.
Developed in consultation with the water industry, stakeholders and the community, the strategy harnesses the strong partnerships and collaborative approach the Queensland Government has with communities across Queensland, to meet challenges and create future opportunities when it comes to water security.
Responding to the need to balance the increasing economic, environmental, social and cultural demand for water, the strategy identifies four key delivery focus areas:
• Healthy waterways
• First Nations partnerships
• Water for regional economic prosperity
• Safe and secure water supply
Drawing on the best science, technology, water planning and traditional knowledge, the strategy sets out how the Palaszczuk Government will continue to build on its $5.2 billion in water infrastructure investment and encourage smart water management across our state.
Also in the spotlight today was the $2.6 million Urban Water Risk Assessment, a vital program of work being undertaken by the Queensland Government to help remote and regional communities identify and address water and sewerage service needs.
This work builds on the significant work undertaken to date on these important projects, particularly through round 6 of Building our Regions. Under the Palaszczuk Government’s highly successful Building our Regions program $417 million has been provided to 69 local governments, towards 370 infrastructure projects, leveraging more than $609 million and supporting an estimated 3,180 jobs during construction.
Quotes attributable to Water Minister, Glenn Butcher:
“You can always count on the Palaszczuk Government to ensure every Queensland community has access to safe drinking water – and you can always count on the Palaszczuk Government to do the planning necessary to meet future water security needs.”
“We are in lock-step with our Councils when it comes to delivering infrastructure that Queensland communities need.
“The Queensland Water Strategy enables us to come together to look at the longer-term issues that we need to prepare for. The strategy is our blueprint for future water planning and builds on our track record of water infrastructure delivery.
“Whether it’s the $5.2 billion invested in water infrastructure since 2015 which has created 3,400 jobs, or the important planning work underway, Queensland communities can be confident the Palaszczuk Government will continue to deliver water security and economic growth throughout the state and sustainably manage our precious water resources well into the future.”
